Election violence may harm govt's image: Rights body

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said yesterday that widespread election violence might tarnish the government as the election organizer.

"The commission... is concerned by the widespread and harsh reactions of community groups over what they believed were violations in the election by the organizer, the parties and the people," said commission secretary-general Baharuddin Lopa after a plenary meeting to review the general election.

Reading a statement by the commission, Lopa said the violations had occurred in all stages of the election, from preparations to ballot counting.

"... (the violations) could influence (public) perceptions on the integrity of the election," he said.

"The commission regrets that the 1997 general election had proceeded amid intensive violence, claiming lives and causing damage to property and houses of worship and causing widespread fear during the campaign," he said.

"It (the violence) shouldn't have happened given that we've repeatedly held general elections," he said.

The commission sent teams to the sites of election unrest, including the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin and Sampang in Madura, East Java.

The commission found that the unrest was related to a general increase in violence.

The commission said several violations had occurred, including the election organizer's failure to invite registered voters to polling stations.

The commission called on the government, the House of Representatives, the parties' leaders and community leaders to evaluate the election.

"We are suggesting that violations in the election be handled through legal means so that there will not be any prejudice against the government as the party which organized the election," Lopa said.

The commission also released a statement of complaint lodged by the United Development Party (PPP) branch in Jepara, Central Java. The complaint alleged that security personnel, local officials, Golkar members and unidentified youths had abused PPP supporters.

The branch said their property had been vandalized and its supporters arrested and detained illegally.

On May 30, the commission sent a team to investigate the Jepara branch's complaint and found that Golkar members and the community in general had also suffered abuse and vandalism.

The commission called on security personnel in Jepara to act according to the law and guarantee the safety of people who felt threatened. (05)